Protecting device



April 7, 1931.

A. J. BLANCHETTE- PROTECTING DEVICE Filed July l5, 1929 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ALFRED JQBLANCHETTE, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS PBOTECTING DEVICE `appucmion filed July 15,

manently closingsuch openings without .re-

'tarding'the operation `of the signal actuating rods or levers. l Afurther object of the invention is to pro- .vide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth,

a device of theclassreferred to including shiftable means permanentlyacting to arrest the entrance of snow or sleet into wall vm `openingsthroughwhich pass the actuating rodsor levers for semaphore signals,there- 'by ptiventing any'possibility of the jamming of the rodsorlevers in such openings.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in La manner ashereinafter set forth,

a device of the class referred to including shiftable means permanentlyacting to close the wall openings through which pass semaphore signalactuating rods or levers thereby preventing the passage through suchopenings of sparks from engines, snow, rain, wind, sleet, cold,resulting in the 'protecting ofthe. operator ofthe rodsor levers.

AV further object ofthe invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to includingshiftable means permanently acting toclose wall openings employed forthe passage of signal .actuating rods or levers to prevent tector frominclementand cold weather reanypossibility of ice forming around the1929. serial No. 378,457.

sulting in a saving of fuel consumption, readily assembled, quicklyinstalled in position and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. y

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views Figure l is a front elevation of aprotecting device in accordance with this invention installed withrespect to a wallhaving openings for the passageof signal operatingrods.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a wall providedwith an opening andfurther illustrating the adaptation of u protectingdevice in accordance with this invention with respect to the opening andalso showing a signal shifting rod and the actuating lever for the rod.

`Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of a wall providedwith an opening for the passage of a shifting rod for a signal andfurther showing the adaptation` of the protecting device` with respectto the wall.

Figure is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a'modified form ofprotecting device.

.A protecting device, in accordance with this invention is designedprimarily for the closing of an opening oropenings formed in the Wall orwallsof a signalling tower to protect the part or portion of a signalshifting rod or lever arranged within an opening or openings, as well asto protect the signal man within the tower.

The device can be set up with one or more closure members, dependingupon the number of wall openings. As illustrated the device ployed forshifting l semaphore ,signals '.to Aand Vfrom signalling position. Therods extend intothe tower and are connected to actu-ating leverstherefor and such levers are shifted by the signal man stationed withinthe tower. Aniactuating lever for one o f 1theshiftingzrods lS indicatedat 6. l

"The device includes a wall `plate7 ofrthe desired size which is securedto'theouter face .ofthe wall 1 -by theholdfast .devices.8. The plate .7Vis ,provided .with a pairof rectangular yslots 9, l0 which registerrespectively with the openings 2, 3..

Secured ,to theouterfaceof the plate 7 is a pair of. spaced, oppositelydisposed, opposed, .GOIDbiIled ,guide Land. retaining .bars 12 fof`equal length. YThe ,b ar 11 is mortised on itsA ,inner face :to providea slide-wayj13 Yand ,bar f. 12 is mortised V,on its inner face .toprovide la slideway 514'.

f Slidably .mounted against the plate 7 .and

retainedY in position :bythebars 11, ,1 2 ris a pair s ,pectfto eachother.

Vofclosure members 1 5, 16 .the former previd- .ed 1centrally with .avertically disposed slot 17 `and the latter with a .vertical-1i7disposed slot 18. T .heslots 1.7, A1 8 register :withahe slots19., l and.the lengthof slots .1.7, 1 8 corresponds to the width of slots 9, 10,respective.- fly. The widthof slots 17, 18isn1aterially less than `thewidth of slots .9, respectively.. The closure members 1?5, 16,areYarranged in spaced :relationand ,each of which iscapable:fbeingshiftedin an ,Ontward or an inward .direction on the outer faceof plate .7. The bars 11, 12 overhang .the .outer .faces of vthevmembers' 15, 1 6, and these latter act gas V permanent closures fortheopeningsQ, 3.

The bars 1.1, 12 aredisposed longitudinally and ,arranged between bars1.1 :12 as well .as

being secured to .the outer face-of each cle-- The pair .of .barsAsecured to `the outer g-face of member are indicated at 19, 20 andthepair of bars secured to the ,outerfa ceof mem! ,ber 16 arevindicated at2.1, 22. r ;lhe .bars of each v.pair .are ,oppositely Adisposed with re-'llek bars. .1.9 2O rhave .their inner faces .mortised as at 23, 2,11.re- Spectively top rovide slide-Ways. The bars 21, l22 have their innerfaces mortised .as lat 25,26 respectively to provide slide-Ways.

.Slidablymounted against the .outer Yface .of the member .1.5 .andretained fthereaganst by .the bars 19., 20 is a vertically movable plate27 formed with a central opening 28. Slidably mounted against the outerface 0f the member 16 and retained thereagainst by the bars 21, 22 is avertically movable plate 29 having a central opening 30.

Secured to the Outer face of the plate 27 is a circular disk 3 1provided with an opening 3 2 which registers with the opening 28.Secured to the outer face of the plate 29 is a circuflar disk 33provided with a central opening 34a which registers with the opening 30.The disks 31 and 33 are secured to the plates 27, 29 respectively by theholdfast devices 35. r1`he edges of the disks`31, 33 are spaced fromtheinner edges of the bars 19, 2.0., 2l ;and22 The shifting rod .extends,threugh .the

Yopening 2,-.sl0t 9., .Slet 17 .and :openings '.28 and 3.2. The rodeextends .through .the open'riig slots l0 .and .18 .and .openings .3.0andl.

yThe member landplate 127 'prevent `the entrance of rain, shew .and.sleet itc .the .onening 2. The member 16; and plate29 prevent `.thelentrante .ef snow, .sleet .and rain .t0 .the sperling 3.. lThe.membersl :and .1.6 .const-- Y tute .permanent .clesures forthe.openings .2.,

3 respectively.

When .the :rods 2,33 are .shifted themenibers 15 and 16 are carriedtherewith. The vertically .movable plates .27,29 prevent .anypossibility of the .of .the rods 4, .5. The

.rods .4,115 can ssfhifthorizontally as well a lslight verticaldirection. The slots in the :members .15,v .1611'11 connection with therertical movement 0f tl1crlates27., 29prerent any vbinding .of .the rods.4, .5 ongthe Yangular .shift .0f-.these latter. V4.The `wall Openings.2, 3 are at all .times closed whether the rods- 21s, Q5 b e normaler4iihsliifted pOSiftOJJ.

`.'1`l1e ,combined guide and retaining hars vcan 4he .set up 'in the.form .as shownnigure 5., .that is ,to say .of angularormto .receivehallbearings 35 .fora .closure member lfrl Figure .5 4.the combined,guide vretain'in,e .bar ,is indicatedat .37 .andjso'f angirlar form.'The ballbearings canbe positioned at the .top .and bottoni .edges ofthe .closrute member .3.6,- In 'Figure 15 .the Wall plate is .designated3.8 and .the building wall 39.- `.Otherwise than that .as'stated theform 'in 'Figure .5 would be .Set fupiu the Same .manner as shown nEig-.ure l. .j

'The holdfast `devices ,for :securing the laars Ill-21nd 12 ,to .thewall plate 7 areindicatedat 40- Theholdfast devices for ,securing .the il .bars 1920, .2 1.and-22 to the members 115 .and learedesignated el.@neef the'hol'clfast devices 8 and which Vis indicated ,at i8 providesAa stop for the outward movement @of the member 1,5 and .another .of thelloldfast de.-

vices `8 vand which is indicated at .8 provides a stop .toarrest ,theoutwardfmovgement of .the member 1.6. Y

It is thought the ,many ladrarrtages ci ,a protecting devicefn.accordance w-itlithisin vention and for the purpose set forth can bereadily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of theinvention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understoodthat changes in the details oi construction can be had which fall Withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

l. In a protecting device for a Wall opening through which extends asignal shifting rod, the combination of a plate adapted to be secured tothe Wall and having an opening registering with the Wall opening, ahorizontally shiftable inner element opposing the outer face of saidplate, a vertically shiftable outer element opposing the outer face ofthe inner elem'ent, said elements permanently closing the openings insaid plate and Wall, said inner element provided with a slotcommunicating with the opening in said plate, said outer elementprovided with an opening registering With said slot, said slot and theopenings in said plate and inner element providing for the passage ofthe shifting rod, horizontally disposed means connected to said platefor slidably supporting said inner element, and vertically disposedmeans connected to said inner element and slidably connecting said outerelement against said inner element.

2. In a protectingdevice for a1 Wall opening through which extends asignal shifting rod, the combination of a horizontally shiftable innerelement, a vertically shittable outer element, apertured means securedto the Wall for slidably supporting said inner element and having itsaperture registering with the opening in the Wall, means carried by theinner element for slidably connecting said outer element therewith, saidelements opposing each other and permanently closing the opening inthevvall and the aperture in said means, said inner element providedwith a slot communicating With the aperture in said means and the Wallopening, said outer element provided with an opening registering withsaid slot, the aperture in said means, the slot in said inner elementand the opening in the outer element providing for the passage of theshifting rod.

3. In a protecting device for a Wall opening through which extends asignal shifting rod, the combination of a horizontally shiftable innerelement, a vertically shiftable outer element, apertured means securedto the wall for slidably supporting said inner element and having itsaperture registering with the opening in the Wall, means carried by theinner element for slidably connecting said outer element therewith, saidelements opposing eaoh other and permanently closing the opening in theWall and the aperture in t said mea-ns, said inner element provided witha slot communicating With the aperture in said means and the Wallopening, said outer element provided with an opening registering withsaid slot, the aperture in said means, the slot in said inner elementand the opening in the outer element providing `for the passage of theshitting rod, and a disk secured to the outer face of said verticallyshiftable element and provided with an opening registering With theopening in such element.

4. In a protecting device for a rectangular wall opening through whichextends a signal shifting rod, the combination of a plate adapted to besecured to the Wall and having an opening corresponding to the shape ofand registering With the Wall opening, a horizontallf,T sliiftableinnerelement opposing the outer face of said plate, a vertically shiftableouter element opposing the outer face of the inner element, said innerelement having a vertically disposed slot arranged at its verticalmedian, of a length corresponding to the Width and of a Width materiallyless than the length of the opening in said plate, said outer elementformed With an opening at the intersection of the Vertical andtransverse medians thereof and of a diameter corresponding to the widthof said slot, means for slidably connecting the outer element to theinner element, means for slidably connecting the inner element to saidplate, and the openings in the plate and outer element and said slotproviding for the passage of the signal shifting rod.

5. In a protecting device for a rectangular Wall opening through whichextends al signal shifting rod, the combination of a plate adapted to besecured to the Wall and having an opening corresponding to the shape ofand registering with the Wall opening, a horizontally shiftable innerelement opposing the outer face of said plate, a vertically shiftableouter element opposing the outer face of the inner element, said innerelement having a vertically disposed slot arranged at its verticalmedian, of a length corresponding to the Width and of a Width materiallyless than the length of the opening in said plate, said outer elementformed with an opening at the intersection of the vertical andtransverse medians thereof and of a diameter corresponding to the Widthof said slot, means for slidably connecting the outer element to theinner and means for slidably connecting the inner element to said plate,the openings in the plate and outer element and said slot providing forthe passage of the signal shifting rod, one of said means beingvertically disposed and secured to the outer face of said inner element,the other of said means being horizontally disposed and secured to theouter face ot said plate.

6. In a protecting device for a Wall opening through which extends asignal shifting rod, the combination of a plate adapted to be secured tothe Wall and having an opening i4 :mambo .O f the Vsfgualek aine@ as andregistering with the opsnmg in the mail., La hQrizQ-ntally ,Sh-twblemember for permanently @losing Sadfvpefmf ing, @aid mmber'ha'vng aver-tical :SlQ Qr @he outer face-.ofsad plate, a vertiQa-lly'shtf .able@lemen-t posi-timed against the @uber faoe Y the passage of the rod,means securedL ,t0 gai@ .120 plate 01 -Sllidably commi-ng said membergthrero, mea-11s Secured xto 15a-id membrifor -lizdably connecting Said@flament Ythel:e-wth,

fsa-id means amm-ged 10.11 the outer im@ toi- Sad plate .and the outerim@ 'of y,Said member., the

l5 means 011 :the plate dsposel right angles fwthrspac to .the on Said.membe- .In testimony Wlhereoff, I @iii Emy :signature hamm .ALFRED J.BLANCHETTE 20

